Thunderridge High School

We have two students here and a third coming up the ranks in a couple of years. The teachers we have come in contact with have all been very helpful and willing to work with our kids. The environment sets students on the path to self reliance and independence. Most of a student's success here is really dependent on how hard they're willing to work. There are some terrific teachers, but not enough. The online registration is easy, especially if you involve a counselor in choosing your classes. However, schedule changes are and always have been extremely difficult. I've heard of my student waiting in the line at the school for 30-40 minutes just to get one class replaced. Parents need to step it up and get more involved in the volunteer opportunities available. They also need to check the Parent Portal to stay informed about how their child(ren) is performing in their classes. Whether or not your student is athletic, it is important for them to be involved in some sort of extra curricular activity because they generally have great atmospheres (the coaches/teachers want your child to succeed) and give the kids a chance to explore their interests outside of academics.
--Submitted by a parent

The principle at ThunderRidge is great! Unfortunately, every other aspect of the school is not. As many people have said, if you're an athlete, you will have a good time here. Most of the teachers love sports and double as coaches. Some even pick favorites and have more pictures of the sport they coach on the walls than math or history posters. I will be a senior next year and continue to be an outcast "band nerd." It might hurt my grade, but it's what I love. Also, ThunderRidge isn't good at preventing bullying. If your child is teased a lot, for anything, don't put them through the pain of this school.
--Submitted by a student

If your child struggles academically, this school will not assist the student, my child was on an ILP and doing well in middle school, TRHS and the county decided to remove his ILP, he now is doing poorly, not getting assistance and I have repeatedly met with teachers and administration, his CSAP scores are now Unsat, they don't care about the students that struggle. This school focuses on those going on to 4 year degree schools, no programs for any type of blue collar types of classes, it is sad that a district that is so rich cannot see the benefit in having more types of classes for those that don't want to be in business or engineering or play sports.
--Submitted by a parent

ThunderRidge Highschool is at the cutting edge of 21st century learning, with an emphasis on critical thinking skills and helping students find relevance in what they are learning.
--Submitted by a teacher

They are really up tight about everything, and even though they say everything is for the kids, their code of conduct ex spells kids for the stupidest things, then leaves their parents to figure it out. There is a lack of parent involvement, so many kids maybe getting bad grades without parents knowing. Teachers are great though, but student:teacher ratio is skyrocketing, while the administration makes a lot of money and the superintendent of the school district gets a 250,000 dollar pay check.
--Submitted by a student

If your child is very athletic or an excpetional student, they will do well here - if not they will be forced out. When we first moved here, I supplied copies of my sons previous IEP's as well as requested a review. We didn't recieve a meeting with the staff until school was in session for nearly two months and then I found out that none of his teachers had been informed that he had an IEP in place. Rather then spend time coming up with a plan for success, the assistant priciple spent the entire meeting discussing what a 'bad' child he was and how he needed to look at alternatives (i.e. drop out and do his GED) because he was convinced he would never be successful. Shame on you Thunderridge!
--Submitted by a parent

Good school, some outstanding teachers but the Administration lacks the desire to provide students with a positive and motivating environment.
--Submitted by a parent

Great school. Lots of experiences and good teachers
--Submitted by a student

I'm now a senior at Thunderridge and have thoroughly enjoyed my four years here. Most of the teachers here are fantastic and give you the feeling that they really care about your success. I have to disagree with one persons review of the school which said that there aren't enough resources for college explorations because there are a ton. They have multiple college visits every week which you can sign up for and you can always visit Mrs. Kelling who is there just to help with college. I'm also tired of hearing people complain that athletes get special treatment. I've played sports every year here and haven't recieved anymore help with anything than my friends who don't play sports so I'd like to know where to sign up to get this extra special athlete treatment. My only complaint is that some of the admins are clearly on a power trip.
--Submitted by a student

I just graduated from ThunderRidge and my first 2 years there were great. I played sports and had lots of friends. However, I found that after I quit playing sports, I kind of became a nobody. There was no more interacting with coaches and so I was kind of ignored by most of my peers and teachers because I didn't play anymore and so I didn't get the recognition. I slipped under the radar basically and suffered. They did not give me any information I needed for my college explorations. Every other student was signed up for a junior and senior meeting, I never got one. Great school and academics, not much discipline and too much athletics and not enough attention to the students in band and who spend their time getting 4.0. To get real attention and help, you need to be an athlete. Also, lack of discipline of students.
--Submitted by a student